Exercise system with graphical feedback and method of gauging fitness progress

ABSTRACT

A system and method for providing visual feedback to a user of an exercise machine for gauging fitness progress of the user. The system provides a user of an exercise machine with a virtual competition in which the user competes against virtual competitors based on his past performances or those of other users, either as an individual or as a member of a team. The team may also be part of a league. For an individual competing against his own past performance(s), the system may raise the level of performance required to win the virtual competition, and may also lower the level of performance required if the user is not performing well on a particular day. For an individual competing against others in either real-time or against designated results, either as part of a team or a league, the system may reduce the isolation, disconnection, and tedium often experienced by users of cardiovascular exercise equipment and provide a social outlet. The system attempts to keep the user engaged and motivated to achieve desired fitness goals by providing real-time performance data and historical performance data displayed in a graphical manner coupled with the entertainment and excitement of competition and social interaction.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/961,296filed Dec. 6, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,012,064 which is a continuationof application Ser. No. 12/814,633 filed Jun. 14, 2010, now U.S. Pat.No. 7,846,069 which is a continuation of application Ser. No.11/245,041, filed Oct. 7, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,736,272 which is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/000,920, filed on Dec.2, 2004 (now abandoned), which is a continuation-in-part of applicationSer. No. 09/933,576, filed on Aug. 21, 2001 (now abandoned), which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This present invention relates generally to exercise equipment and moreparticularly to a cardiovascular exercise machine having a displaysystem to provide a visual gauge of fitness progress and a method forgauging fitness progress.

Cardiovascular exercise machines, as used herein, include fitness bikes,treadmills, step machines, stair machines, rowing machines, crosscountry skiing machines and/or the like. These exercise machines havebeen equipped with a device comprising a combination of a visual displayand a controller. For example, an exercise machine is known to haveattached thereto a media system. The media system may provide capabilityto play compact discs and cassette tapes, as well as providing smalltelevision screens on which to view television programming, movies,and/or the like. In such machines, there is no electronic connectionbetween the media system and the exercise machine. The media systemmerely provides the capability to watch TV and play music duringworkouts.

In another known exercise machine, monitors are attached in order tovary and monitor parameters of the workout such as resistance, targetheart rate, time elapsed, distance covered, current pulse rate, caloricburn ‘rate’, and total calories consumed during the workout. Themonitors may typically display numeric variables in pre-formatted areas,and grids of dots that are either lit, to produce bars of variousheights. Once a user finishes the workout, summary information may bebriefly displayed in numeric format, and then may disappear.

In yet another example of known exercise equipment, exercise machinesare provided with Internet connectivity for use while exercising. Thisparticular system may also provide for individual user identification,recording of total or cumulative miles of ‘exercise’ achieved for eachidentified user, and permit a user to view his or her own summary ofhistorical totals while in the system. However, this display may be inthe form of numerical data, possibly in a spreadsheet format.

There may have been products or services where a computer projects apaced competitor that proceeds at a specific pre-selected speed. Inother systems a user may compete against other users. Although thesesystems may harness the competitive spirit, or alleviate exerciseboredom for some, these systems suffer from several limitations.

For example, conventional exercise displays may not allow a user todetermine whether the user is performing better, or worse, than in thepast. For example, a user may want to determine if he or she can cycle(or run) faster, further, or easier today as compared with yesterday, orlast week. Further, conventional exercise displays may not allow a userto determine how much energy was expended during their present workoutas compared with a previous workout, except in total, and after theycomplete the workout.

A common concern of exercise machine users is whether they are improvingtheir fitness. Conventional exercise machine displays may not allow auser to determine if the user is improving his/her fitness, and, if so,by how much, and in what way.

Another common concern of exercise equipment users is whether they aremore fit currently than they were in the past. Conventional exercisedisplays may not allow a user to determine, for example, whether theuser is more fit today than the user was yesterday, last week, or lastmonth, and, if so, by how much and in what way.

Yet another concern of users of exercise machines may be about whatneeds to be done immediately in order to reach a desired performancelevel. Conventional exercise machine displays may not allow a user todetermine how much harder the user has to exercise in order to reach adesired performance goal. Further, conventional exercise machinedisplays may not allow a user to determine how much harder the usershould exercise immediately in order to improve performance.

A still further concern of exercise machine users may be determiningaverage performance during exercise sessions and what the trend of theaverage is.

Conventional exercise displays may not allow a user to determine howtired the user was at a similar point in a previous workout. Further,conventional exercise machine displays may not allow a user to determineif a user is capable of beating the user's fastest, or best, timebecause conventional exercise displays may not allow a user to determinethe user's best performance achievement to date for specific distances,or durations.

A major concern of exercise machine users is determining whether therehas been any measurable progress made toward the user's goal ofimproving their fitness.

A difficulty in exercise programs may be that regular rigorous exerciseis hard to maintain. For example, many people may start exerciseprograms with great enthusiasm, but may quickly lose motivation after afew weeks. According to research, approximately 60% of new membersjoining gyms to start an exercise program may give up after 3 months. Atthe beginning of a new year, consumers may spend thousands of dollars onexercise machines, and, within a few months, the exercise machines maybe gathering dust in a basement. For many people, it may be difficultenough to get motivated to start exercising in the first place, and maybe even more difficult to maintain high exercise intensity for a full20-30 minute workout. Although many people may be highly motivated toexercise for self-improvement, for most, aerobic activities,particularly using exercise machines, may be hard work, tedious,repetitive, uncomfortable, and/or boring.

Conventional visual systems on or around exercise equipment attempt toaddress these concerns. While some visual display systems may alleviatethe tedium felt during repetitive motion exercise, they may also bedistracting to the workout itself.

Although conventional systems may make the user less bored duringexercise, they may not make the user less bored by exercise. Forexample, watching a great basketball game on a television display systemwhile exercising may be entertaining, but it may not help a user get abetter workout. In fact, quite the opposite may result. Such systems mayentertain the user, but at the cost of further disconnecting the userfrom the exercise activity. They may also impair a connection to theexercise activity and an ability to engage in intense workouts.

Activities like television or surfing the net, available on exerciseequipment, may make one more likely to come to the gym, but because theymay distract the user from the workout, they may reduce the intensity ofthe exercise program. Yet for fitness improvement, it may be criticalfor a user to push beyond his limitations, and for this reason, anincrease in workout intensity may be necessary. In other words, it maynot be enough to be ‘less bored’ during exercise activity for fitnessimprovement. Rather, a user may need to feel more invested in theactivity itself.

Exercise frequency is important, but without workout intensityimprovements may be very limited. For intense workouts, motivation andconcentration may be critical. Because conventional systems may actuallymake it more difficult to concentrate and work out hard, users mayexperience limited fitness improvements even after using such exercisemachines for long periods of time. As a result, they may get both boredand disappointed, leading to a possible discontinuation of the exerciseactivity.

Conventional exercise machine display systems may periodically displaylimited variables such as the user's current heart rate in numericalformat. In contrast, the present invention allows the user to viewgraphs and charts showing continuously changing variables (such as pulserate) in real-time from the initiation of the workout. This real-timegraphical representation allows a user to continuously monitor andadjust relative effort, intensity, and duration, as well as progress andself-improvement.

A further deficiency in conventional exercise equipment is that theyisolate users from each other. Conventional exercise machine displaysystems do not provide for communication, competition, or interactionamong users because, at best, said conventional systems are onlyconnected to the same brand and/or ‘types’ of exercise equipment. Incontrast, the current invention allows users of different models or evendifferent types of equipment, from different vendors, in differentplaces, and at different times, to mutually identify workout partners,to permit others to use their stored workouts as pacers, or even tocompete against others in real-time. The Fitclub system can allow usersto use different types of machines from different vendors by maintainingthe relevant distance calibration for each model in the database asshown in the machinemodeldistance table (718) in the drawing in FIG. 7.The present invention also allows a user to send and receive messages toand from other users while working out, and to make those messagesaccessible to other users both in real-time, or later during thereceiver's workout. The current invention also allows individual usersto cooperate with others in their workouts as members of teams orleagues, in real-time or with previously saved workouts. The currentinvention provides these capabilities for users exercising on equipmentdirectly next to each other, in the same exercise facility, or inexercise facilities or homes across the world.

With some known exercise machines, users are able to choose a variety ofpre-programmed workout environments, in which the user's virtual figure“exercises.” These various environments are generic and often involve a“country” landscape or a “mountain” landscape. The present invention, bycontrast, allows users to choose from a variety of true-to-life routeson which to exercise by cycling, running, or other cardio activity, andto do so in real-time with others in the same ‘virtual place’. Thesereal-time, real-life landscapes include Washington, D.C., New York City,and the Tour de France, as well as many other virtual location scenes,either actual or fictional.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a solution tothe problem and limitations of conventional display system discussedabove by creating a real-time visual feedback environment in which theuser may exercise in a virtual competition. In the virtual competition,a user exercises against his/her own previous workouts as “shadowcompetitors”, while continuously receiving updated graphicalpresentations of relevant performance and physiological parameters,based on the current workout and in relation to those of previousworkouts. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises alocal computer, or processor attached to an exercise machine, a visualdisplay device, processes, software, drivers, graphical animationmethods, and a remote server(s) and database. This embodiment uses aseparate local computer for each client, but the system may work in anequivalent fashion with a single local server providing the processing.This embodiment of the present invention provides a method and systemfor measuring, recording, and providing graphical and/or visual feedbackto users of the relevant parameters of their current workouts,juxtaposed with those of their own previous workouts, or with those ofother user(s), who have permitted them to do so, on exercise machines.The system may work in an equivalent fashion, in real-time competitions,and with minor adjustments, for many different cardiovascular exercisemachines.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the display systemof the invention may be attached to an exercise bicycle. In thisembodiment, the local system visual display mechanism (for example, amonitor attached to an exercise bike) presents a small cyclist figurerepresenting the current workout of the user. The figure may move alonga “virtual track” on the display screen, varying in relation to the rateat which the user is pedaling. The invention may also produce severalother “shadow competitor” cyclist figures. The other shadow competitorsmay represent actual and/or theoretical workouts previously recorded,which may be averages, or the user's best performance results or may beother users who have given permission for their results to be used in acompetition, either as an individual, or a member of a team or a league.Each of the shadow competitors may move along the virtual track at arate in accordance with the speed at which the user pedaled during anactual workout. In addition to reproducing into the current virtualenvironment actual workouts previously recorded, the invention alsogenerates mathematical or even theoretical shadow competitors torepresent, for example, a weekly, monthly, team, or any other average,or for such things as the personal best time.

In addition to creating the ‘virtual competition’, an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention may provide a continuous record ofall workout variables from the beginning of the workout to the presenttime in graphical format. For example, the user may see not only whathis current pulse rate is, but the user may see a line graph of exactlywhat it is at each point in the workout and how the user's pulse ratehas been changing throughout the workout. To allow for comparisons withprevious workouts, an exemplary embodiment may also provide the userwith an input device, such as, for example, a touch screen, to bring upthe same graphical representations for each and any of the “shadowcompetitors.” These graphs may be juxtaposed, or overlaid, with thecurrent graph for that variable to provide the user with immediate up todate visual comparisons. This allows the user to readily see, forexample, how his current pulse rate has changed compared to his/herpulse rate on a previous workout, up to this same point in the workout.

The visual juxtaposition, or overlay, of workout shadows allows the userto easily and immediately see whether the user is ahead or behind aparticular shadow(s), and by how much. The graphical juxtaposition, oroverlay, of workout variables such as pulse rate also allows the user toreadily ascertain the relative intensity and relative fitness comparedto specific previous workouts, at each point throughout the workout.This feedback may keep a user involved in a workout and provide anincentive to work harder.

The invention, in an exemplary embodiment, thus provides visualrepresentations in real-time, of ‘up-to-date’ workout intensity andprogress or change over time, as the user is achieving it. The presentinvention may be designed to make the workout more personal, moreinteresting, more compelling, and/or provide the greater motivation.Visually, the system may mimic watching oneself compete on television ina representation of an actual place, without ever actually being there.Although previously exercise may have been a solitary and boringactivity, the visual feedback system of the present invention onrelative workout performance, in real time, may provide for aninteresting competition, and also provide immediate visual feedback onmany aspects of the workout as well as improvement over time. Thepresent invention may overcome the limitations of conventional systemsby combining physical and/or physiological feedback relative to previousworkouts, which may provide psychological reinforcement for increasingintensity and self-improvement.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, each user maychoose to compete against himself. This may be important forpsychological reasons. Unlike competing against others, this is acompetition that all users can win most of the time, providing moreencouragement and therefore incentive to try harder. In fact, on anygiven day, each user may have a chance to win their race. However, eachtime they do, it raises the performance bar for next time. The moreoften one beats a shadow competitor, the better performance it takes tobeat the shadow competitor the next time, but also the more the userpushes his/her body to improve it's capabilities. Conversely, after afew slower weeks, a user may be temporarily discouraged, but theperformance bar is being lowered, which gives the user a better chanceof doing well the next time period. It is this finely tuned ‘automaticadjusting of the performance bar’ that an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention provides, which constructs an appropriate schedule ofpositive psychological reinforcement and therefore encouragement. Tomaximize motivation, an exemplary embodiment of the present inventionmay make each workout challenging, but not discouragingly so, for eachuser based on their abilities and past performance.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention shows measurableprogress towards a fitness goal in a way that may also provide anincentive and reward for effort. By providing feedback in a currentworkout, the system may encourage a user in real-time, when the user'smotivation is most vulnerable.

In other words, the system and method of the present invention may makea computer game out of workouts. Millions of people play computer gameslong and often, and, perhaps, even obsessively. Although this may soundlike unproductive or frivolous behavior on a computer game, it isexactly the behavior to encourage for exercise activities. Therefore,the system and method of the present invention may be designed to takeadvantage of the same psychological forces by creating the sameenvironment. Only in this game the “joystick” is an exercise machine,the “skill” is workout effort, and the only way to win the game is toworkout harder. Normally obsessive gaming leads to “sore thumbs”, but byattaching a different game console and joystick, this invention actuallyharnesses obsessive behavior to get “sore muscles”, and fitnessimprovements.

Further, in this exemplary embodiment, a user may, with the permissionof other users, choose to exercise or race against their workoutpartner's already completed and stored workouts as a ‘shadowcompetitor’. In the exemplary embodiment, the user will be permitted toadd or remove the userIDs of their designated partners on a form on thewebsite at any time. The user's choice of designated workout partnerswill be kept on the remote database in a table like 902 in FIG. 9 of thedrawings. In the exemplary embodiment, when the user logs on, they willthen be allowed to choose from a list of their own saved workouts andthose of users who have designated them as workout partners.

In the exemplary embodiment, a user may also choose to communicate withother users while working out in real-time. Each time a user logs on tothe system, a flag is entered into the database in table 708,identifying their presence in the system and the ID of the individualmachine they are on in table 706. In the exemplary embodiment, userswill be prompted to communicate with their workout partners if any ofthem they are simultaneously logged on to the system, in accordance withthe flow shown in FIG. 11. Or they may send messages for workoutpartners or any other users, in accordance with the flow shown in FIG.10 by using their e-mail address as shown in table 708.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides forcommunications, and interactions among users and health clubs. In theconventional exercise environment, even in those scenarios where perhapshundreds of other users are physically present, a user is isolated fromhis fellow exercisers as he operates a piece of exercise equipment. Thisdisconnected and isolating experience, which occurs in the midst of somany other people, often leads users to discontinue their exercisepursuits. In contrast, an exemplary embodiment of the present inventionprovides for users to mutually identify work-out partners in the system(stored in table 902), to permit those partners to mutually retrieve andcompete against each others saved workouts, and to allow users tocommunicate with other users in real time, or leave messages for them toretrieve during their next workout on the GWFS.

In the exemplary embodiment, the graphical workout feedback system(GWFS) provides via the website, the capability for users to define andadminister leagues and teams within the system, and to establishdurations, criteria, and reward systems for those leagues. This datawill be administered as shown in FIG. 12 of the drawings. In thisembodiment the GWFS will allow users to make the leagues as narrow or asbroad as they wish for example: ‘over 40, female members of Golds Gym’.In the exemplary embodiment, eligibility for those leagues will beassessed automatically by the system based on the information retainedon member users. In the exemplary embodiment, each individual workoutmay be attributed to one, two, or as many leagues or teams as they wantsimultaneously.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, if the present invention comprisesa remote data system, a website, a local system, and a method ofconnecting the remote and local systems.

The remote system comprises a remotely located web and databaseserver(s) which may or may not be co-located, with installed operatingsystem(s), accessible by a large number of local systems, a database,and transmission and communication protocols, and operating system,software technologies, and application programming interfaces (APIs).

The local system comprises a computer and monitor connected to anexercise machine, a set of sensors and drivers for measuring userworkout activities/motions on the machine and transmitting them to thesystem in electronic form, transmission and communication protocols,routers, interface/query programs for sending and retrieving workoutdata to and from remote database, as well as the software implementingthe user interfaces, the graphics, the 3D animation functionality. Theanimation functionality comprises 3-dimensional visual representationsof current and previous actual or mathematically constructed workouts inthe same time/space reference (e.g. figures representing the currentexercise activity ‘competing against ones own previous workout/time’),3-dimensional terrains and models of actual places, and objects, as wellas graphical presentations of different parameters of current andprevious workouts, such as distance covered, resistance, and pulse rate,up to date, in real time, and throughout the duration of the workout.

The connectivity between local and remote systems may be a wired orwireless network, such as, for example, the Internet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional client server databasearchitecture with Internet connection;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a server side software architecture showinga relational database management system in relation to an operatingsystem;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary client software architecturein relation to a network architecture for the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary exercise machine network inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an exemplary graphical user interface display inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an another form of a graphical user interfacedisplay in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an exemplary relational database design inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for providing graphicalworkout feedback in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an exemplary relational database table toprovide the capability to establish workout partners in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for a messaging system inthe invention;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for implementing real-timecommunication with other users in the invention;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an exemplary relational database designfor providing leagues in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for administering leaguesin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for implementing racing inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of an exemplary relational database designfor providing real-time racing in accordance with the present invention;and

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for retrieving workoutreports of one user by another user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a block diagram of aconventional client server database system with Internet connection. Inparticular, client server system 10 comprises a server 102, a database104, an Internet network 106, and a client 108.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a relational database management system inrelation to an operating system. In particular, a relational databasemanagement system 202 is coupled to an operating system 204.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary client architecture inaccordance with the present invention. In particular, a clientarchitecture comprises a persistence framework (e.g. Hibernate) 302, auser interface (e.g. SWING) 304, an exercise machine interface 306, arelational database design (e.g. MYSQL) 308, a java virtual machine 310,and an operating system (e.g. Linux) 312.

In operation, the persistence framework 302 provides a mechanism for theGWFS application data to be permanently saved. The user interface 304provides the graphical user interface functionality. The exercisemachine interface 306 provides an interface to the sensor coupled to theexercise machine and/or the user. The object model 308, java virtualmachine 310, and the operating system 312 provide various softwaresupport services that enable the GWFS application to operate.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary exercise machine network inaccordance with the present invention. In particular, a database 104 islinked to a network 402. Exercise machines equipped with the GWFS (404,406, and 408) are linked to the network 402.

In operation, the exercise machines equipped with the GWFS (404, 406,and 408) store and retrieve data in the database 104 via communicationacross network 402. The network 402 may be a wired or wireless network.

Further, the system provides for individual user identification andconfirmation. User input is accomplished by the local part of thesystem, the GWFS units (404, 406, and 408), which are attached to theexercise machines. The GWFS units (404, 406, and 408) prompt the user toenter information identifying the user and intended workout parameters.The visual display of the GWFS units (404, 406, and 408) provides thisfunctionality through a touch-sensitive monitor screen keyboard that isdisplayed in response to the user initiating the system. Thetouch-sensitive screen keyboard is a preferred, but not the only, methodfor the local system interface, and is desirable primarily foreliminating the need for a physical keyboard. The system is initiatedwhen a user touches the application icon, or when a user commences touse the equipment in the normal manner. If the user requests GWFSfunctionality the local system sends a query to the remote database 104,via the network 402 using identification information input by the user.As soon as the local part of the system authenticates the user from theremote database, it returns their previous workouts, allows the user toselect from those workouts, and then it creates a ‘virtual competition’environment on a selected area of the visual display (monitor). Thesystem generates different virtual competition environments depending onthe particular exercise machine it is attached to. For illustrativepurposes the current description assumes it is attached to an exercisebike. In this case, the virtual competition environment consists of aroad, or track (circular, linear, or other shaped course) in whichcycling figures can be depicted. The GWFS units (404, 406, and 408)depict the current workout as a figure on a bike moving along the trackat a speed commensurate with the rate at which the user pedals on theexercise machine. The system moves the ‘cyclist’ around/along thevirtual track much in the same way a video game does. But the GWFS inthis configuration responds to pedal motion not to input from a joystickor game console. This functionality is accomplished using variousgraphical animation methods.

When the remote server (not shown) receives the identification requestfrom the local GWFS units (404, 406, and 408), it verifies the useridentification and returns a package of data to the local site, i.e. theGWFS units (404, 406, and 408). This package of data is typically astandardized profile of the user's previous workouts.

The initial standard data package depends on the recency andavailability of previous workout data. The GWFS units (404, 406, and408) temporarily store this data on the local hard drive, and then usethis data to generate a variety of ‘shadow competitors’ and add them tothe visual presentation of the virtual competition. One shadowcompetitor is generated for each previous workout retrieved. Forexample, if the individual has already been working out for a minute bythe time the local system receives the data package, then the GWFSpresents each shadow competitor at the logical location on the virtualtrack that was reached, one minute after the start of each respectiveworkout. Each shadow competitor is color coded for easy visualidentification and with a color intensity in reverse proportion to therecency of that workout. For example, if a shadow represents a workoutfrom a month ago, the shadow would have a very low color intensity. Thelocal system also generates shadow competitors for theoretical workoutssuch as ‘the previous weeks average’, the ‘previous months average’,‘weekly average to-date’, ‘personal best’, and others. A preferrednumber of shadow competitors, depending on several conditions, is 5-10.The standard competition includes the previous five workouts, plus ashadow for the average (of those five), plus a shadow for the user'spersonal best time for that workout distance. In any case, it is likelythat the virtual competition will function best based on a total of lessthan 10 total shadow competitors. However, the GWFS units (404, 406, and408) also generate more shadow competitors in response to subsequentuser requests.

The GWFS units (404, 406, and 408) recreate the exact movement over timeof those previous workouts, but depict them as shadow competitors movingalong the same virtual track as the current workout. Each shadow isdepicted either behind or ahead of the current workout figure, and eachother, at all times in exact proportion to their relative performancefrom the initiation of the workout. In other words, the GWFS units (404,406, and 408) take all these workouts that occurred in reality atdifferent times, and recreates them, in the same track, as if they werehappening simultaneously. It should be appreciated that the graphicalpresentation may be in two-dimensional graphics, or in three-dimensionalgraphic representations. With a result that the GWFS creates a visualeffect similar to a real-time computer game using a virtual competitionwith oneself.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an exemplary user interface in accordance withthe present invention. In particular, a display system 50 comprises avisible screen portion 502, a touch screen portion 504, a heart rategraph 506, a distance graph 508, a blood oxygen level graph 510, a firstvirtual competitor 512, a second virtual competitor 514, and a graphicalsymbol of a current workout 516.

In operation, the heart rate graph 506, distance graph 508, and bloodoxygen level graph 510 are responsive to data received from sensorsattached to the user or to the exercise machine. The first virtualcompetitor 512 and second virtual competitor 514 are responsive tohistorical data retrieved from a database. The graphical symbol of acurrent workout 516 is responsive to current workout sensed data. Thetouch screen portion 504 is responsive to user input.

Further, the graphics necessary for the basic visual presentation andfunctionality of the graphical user interface are retained on, andgenerated by, the local GWFS. Because the required graphics images areknown prior to run time, this is not a problem. It should be appreciatedthat many different competition environments, or ‘tracks’ could beeasily provided as options to the user. The GWFS is configured so thatcommunications between remote and local systems are in the form ofconventional protocols, but may be implemented in later developedprotocols. By transmitting only data, bandwidth requirements can be keptto a minimum for this functionality.

Conventional systems may provide methods for measuring, recording, andpresenting summary information on exercise machine workouts. Knownexercise bikes, for example, display (for a few seconds at the finish ofthe workout); the total number of miles cycled, total number of caloriesburned, and total time duration. However, even if systems retainedsummary information such as that the current user covered 4.86 miles inthe previous 15-minute workout, this would provide sub-optimal estimatesfor creating a virtual competition, and inadequate records for graphicalpresentations and real time feedback. To remedy this problem the localsystem of the current invention measures and records several aspects ofeach workout, in small increments, throughout the duration of theexercise activity.

For some workout variables, such as the pedaling rate and resistance,the GWFS measures and records one or more times per second, others suchas pulse rate are recorded at larger intervals, such as once per minute.The GWFS uses straight-line extrapolation to smoothly bridge from onemeasurement point to the other for those workout variables that arerecorded at larger time intervals. Tradeoffs and compromises may have tobe made between the number of variables measured, the measurementinterval, the number and size of shadow figures, number of dimensions,graphical views and other variables depending on system processing ormemory resources. There are many permutations that work perfectly well,and the specific combination is not critical to the functioning of theinvention, although at extremes it may affect the degree of realismperceived by users.

On some conventional equipment the variable known as ‘level’ is actuallya parameter that varies resistance to the pedaling activity. In the realworld this is equivalent to a gear on a bike. A higher gear is a higherresistance level, but covers more distance, per revolution. However, inthe current art no accommodation is made of how the resistance variableimpacts distance covered. In fact, on some known exercise bikes,pedaling for half an hour causes the display to read the same 10.8 milescovered each time, regardless of the resistance level or evenrevolutions per minute (RPM) of pedaling. Although varying the level andRPM parameters causes these machines to report different results for‘calories burned’, it is quite clear that measures generated by someconventional systems are gross, unrealistic, and unreliable. To morerealistically reflect distance covered in a manner similar to an actualbike ride in the real world, the GWFS calculates the distance coveredusing the RPM directly and by multiplying this by an increasingly largefactor as the level is increased. Thus the distance covered after tenseconds of pedaling at 100 RPM at resistance level six will be 1.× timesas much as the same time and RPM at resistance level five. Calculationof the correct relative distance ratios for each resistance level isobviously an iterative process requiring a different calibration thatvaries by specific type of exercise equipment, and even by model orversion. One of ordinary skill in the current art understands that thespecific multiplier for each resistance level is subject to sometweaking, and may even have to vary (ultimately) according to thespecific machine brand and model. Nevertheless, the GWFS is designed toconsistently and credibly maximize the accuracy of such variables tominimize user disconnectedness from the workout activity, in sharpcontrast to methods used in the current art. In practical terms, all thesystem needs to do to provide a substantial improvement is to have thedistance increase with increasing revolutions per minute, not to measureit precisely. The formula for calculating distance will inevitably beapproximate initially and improve over time.

Although the conventional systems may provide sensory devices on handlesattached to the equipment for measuring pulse rates, these methods arenot considered sufficiently accurate or reliable. In a preferredembodiment, the GWFS utilizes a different device that receives sensoryinformation from a source closer to the heart. The device is a sensorydevice worn like a strap over the shoulder, resting directly over thechest and receiving sensory input through the chest rather than thehands. Such devices are currently available commercially as stand-alonepulse rate measurement devices. This GWFS invention will utilize suchdevices but will integrate them into the system by directly wiring thesensory device to the GWFS. Those of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that, wireless technology will perform this function equallyas well as a physical wiring. The methods to integrate data from thisdevice are also relatively straightforward and well known in the currentart. In this configuration the GWFS records the pulse rate continuouslyusing the sensory device, but then instead of replacing previousmeasurements with new ones as in the current art, the GWFS retains andstores the recorded pulse rate every 60-120 seconds on the local system.As with new data on all parameters, the GWFS then immediately updatesgraphical presentations. Those of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that it may be desirable to also measure such variables asblood oxygen level, oxygen intake, respirations, and/or the like. Thesevariables vary significantly during intense aerobic activity, and themeans to measure, record, and display them are known to the current art,although they are typically utilized in sports medicine or hospitalsituations. The system and method of the present invention may enablethe same level of sophistication to be achieved on exercise machines ina gym.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an exemplary user interface in accordance withthe present invention. In particular, a display system 60 comprises avisible screen portion 602, a touch screen portion 604, a calorie chart606, a performance graph 608, a select item button 610, a show optionsbutton 612, a change mode button 614, a back button 616, an end workoutbutton 618, an annual pie chart 620, a weekly improvement bar chart 622,a first virtual competitor 624, a second virtual competitor 626, a thirdvirtual competitor 628, a fourth virtual competitor 630, and a fifthvirtual competitor 632.

In operation, the select item button 610, show options button 612,change mode button 614, back button 616, and end workout button 618 areprovided for receiving control input from a user. The calorie chart 606,performance graph 608, annual pie chart 620, and weekly improvement barchart 622 are responsive to current and/or historical workout data. Thefirst virtual competitor 624 represents a workout from ten days ago. Thesecond virtual competitor 626 represents last week's averageperformance. The third virtual competitor 628 represents yesterday'sworkout. The fourth virtual competitor 630 represents today's workout.The fifth virtual competitor 632 represents the best performance of theuser. The virtual competitors are responsive to historical and/orcurrent data.

The buttons (610-618) are graphical symbols on a touch screen interfaceand respond to touch pressure from the user applied to the screen. Whilespecific user interface elements are shown in FIG. 6, it should beappreciated that the user interface elements may be implemented in avariety of forms.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an exemplary software relational databasedesign in accordance with the present invention. In particular, anaddress table 702 has a one-to-one relationship with a Gym table 704, aone-to-many relationship with a user table 708, and comprises sixelements: 1) UserID, 2) Address1, 3) Address2, 4) City, 5) State, and 6)Zip. The Gym table 704 has a one-to-many relationship with a Machinetable 706, the user table 708, and a workout table 710, and a one-to-onerelationship with the address table 702, and comprises threeelements: 1) GymID, 2) Name, and 3) Address. The Machine table 706 has amany-to-one relationship with the Gym table 704, a one-to-manyrelationship with the workout table 710, and comprises five elements: 1)MachineID, 2) Type, 3) Brand, 4) Model, and 5) GymID. The User table 708has a many-to-one relationship with the Gym table 704, and the Addresstable 702, and a one-to-many relationship with the workout table 710,and comprises five elements: 1) UserID, 2) firstName, 3) lastName, 4)Address, and 5) GymID. The Workout 710 table has a many-to-onerelationship with the Gym table 704, the User table 708, and the Machinetable 706, and a one-to-many relationship with a WorkoutStep table 712,and comprises six elements: 1) workoutID, 2) userID, 3) machineID, 4)timeStamp, 5) WorkoutSteps, and 6) distance. The WorkoutStep table 712has a many-to-one relationship with the Workout table, and comprisesfive elements: 1) workoutID, 2) timeStamp, 3) heartrate, 4) rpm, and 6)resistance.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for providing graphicalworkout feedback in accordance with the present invention. Inparticular, the control sequence begins at step 802 and continues tostep 804. In step 804, instantaneous sensor data is received by thegraphical workout feedback system. Control then continues to step 806.

In step 806, the instantaneous data is stored. Control then continues tostep 808. In step 808, historical data is retrieved. Control continuesto step 810.

In step 810, the GWFS renders a graphical representation of the currentworkout instantaneous sensed data and the historical data. Control thencontinues to step 812 when the control sequence ends. However, thenature of the GWFS may require that control remain in a loop. In such anembodiment, control would continue from step 812 back to step 802 andthe control sequence would begin again. Such a control loop may operateuntil terminated by a user, by power off, or by other source.

During the workout activities, all information relating to the workoutis recorded and stored on the local system hard drive. As the workoutproceeds, and as designated memory is allocated, the local system canperiodically copy ‘a partial chunk’ of the current workout data andattempt to transmit it to the remote system to be stored in thedatabase. This allows that storage to be freed up, if the local systemthreatens to run out. The optimal size or periodicity of thesetransmissions is between 1-5 minutes of (completed) workout data,depending on the connectivity, usage, and other factors. At theconclusion of the workout, during periods of ‘down time’, and based onavailability of connectivity, the local system communicates with theremote system to insure that all data related to complete workouts havebeen received by the remote system and stored on the remote database.After confirmation of receipt from the remote location, the local systemdeletes the local copies of workout data on the hard drive, and releasesthe storage, whether it is needed or not.

In a preferred embodiment, the GWFS segments the visual display intothree parts. It allocates the ongoing virtual competition to one area ofthe visual display, graphs of workout data to a second area, and userinput icons to a third area. Optimally, the far right part of the visualdisplay screen (a column approximately 20-25% of screen width) beallocated to user input icons, and the remaining portion of the visualdisplay is segmented by a horizontal line approximately ⅓ of the waydown from the top. In the optimal configuration the virtual competitionis presented in the larger ⅔ portion at the bottom of the screen.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of exemplary relational database tables toprovide the capability to establish workout partners in accordance withthe present invention. In particular, a user table 904 has a one-to-manyrelationship with a permissions table 902. The user table 904 comprisesfields for 1) userID, 2) firstName, 3) lastName, 4) address, 5) gym, 6)gender, 7) birthdate, 8) loggedOnFlag, and 9) haveMessageFlag. Thepermissions table 902 comprises four fields: 1) givingUserID, 2)receivingUserID, 3) allowUseWorkouts, and 4) allowViewReports.

The permissions table 902, through the givingUserID and receivingUserIDfields, allows a user to designate one or more other users with which toshare information and to partner with for working out. Flags, such asthe allow use workout and allowViewReports, are used to determine thedetails of what information is to be shared and how information isshared between users.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for a messaging system inthe invention. In particular, the control sequence begins at step 1002and continues to step 1004. In step 1004, a first user logs on to thegraphical workout feedback system. Control then continues to step 1006.

In step 1006, the system extracts the userID and machineID from thelogon transaction and stores them in a database. Control then continuesto step 1008. In step 1008, the system checks the first user's messagebox (which may be previously established) for a flag indicating newmessages. If no flag is present, control continues to step 1010.

If a new message flag were found, the first user would be alerted to thepresence of a message through an on-screen visual display, an audio cue,or a combination of the above.

In step 1010, the user may request the messaging function. Control thencontinues to step 1012 where the first user enters a userID of a seconduser they want to contact. Control then continues to step 1014.

In step 1014 the system checks a user table (see for example FIG. 9,904) for the value in the loggedOnFlag for the userID of the desiredcontact. If the system detects the presence of the requested contact(i.e., the second user is logged in), control then continues to step1016 where the system opens a 2-way dialog box on the displays of boththe first user and second user, and alerts the second user of thecontact seeker. If the user sought does not have a “loggedOn” value inthe loggedOnFlag in table 904, control passes to step 1018.

In step 1018, the system allows a message to be typed, and puts a flagin the second user's message box. When the second user logs on, controlpasses to step 1020. Control then passes to step 1022 where the systemchecks user table 904 for the haveMessageFlag for that user, finds themessage and passes it to the second user. Then the control sequenceends. The control sequence may be repeated as desired or necessary tofully process messages.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for the instant messagingfunction of the present invention. In particular, the control sequencebegins at step 1102 and continues to step 1104. In step 1104, a firstuser (User1) logs on to the GWFS. Control then continues to step 1106.In step 1006, the system extracts the machineID from the logontransaction and stores it in a database and enters a flag indicating thefirst user is logged on. (For example, in the loggedOnFlag in table904.) Control then continues to step 1108. In step 1108, the systemchecks for designated workout buddies of the first user, using, forexample, table 902. For all designated workout buddies, the system thenchecks if they have a logged on indication in the loggedOnFlag in table904. Control continues to step 1110. In step 1110, for each workoutbuddy the system identifies as not logged on control passes on to step1112. In step 1112 a second user (User2) logs on who has a workout buddywho is already logged on and therefore has loggedOnFlag checked in table904. Control then continues to step 1114.

In step 1114 the system enters a check in the loggedOnFlag in table 904for the second user. Control then continues to step 1116.

In step 1116, the system checks the second user's designated workoutbuddies in table 902 and identifies the first user. Control thencontinues to step 1118 where the system checks the loggedOnFlag foruser1 and identifies user1 as in the system. Control then passes to step1120. In step 1120 the system opens a 2-way dialog box on each of thedisplay systems of the first users and the second users linked by theirrecorded machineIDs. Then the control sequence ends, and the first andsecond users are able to exchange messages while working out. Thecontrol sequence may be repeated as necessary or desired to maintaincommunications between users of the GWFS.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an exemplary relational database forproviding leagues in accordance with the present invention. Inparticular, a leagues database 1202 is in a one-to-many relationshipwith a LeagueTeams database 1204. A Teams database 1208 is in amany-to-one relationship with the LeagueTeams database 1204. ATeamMembers database 1206 is in a many-to-many relationship with theTeams database 1208. And a User database 708 is in a many-to-onerelationship with the Teams database 1206.

The Leagues database 1202 includes a LeagueID field for uniquelyidentifying the league, a LeagueName field for storing the name of theleague, a LeagueManager field for storing the name of the leaguemanager, a LeagueStartDate field, a LeagueEndDate field, aMaxTeamsPerLeague field for establishing the maximum number of teams forthe league, a MaxPersonsPerTeam field for specifying the maximum numberof people per team, a GymIDCriteria field used in limiting the league toone or more specific gyms, a MachineTypeCriteria for limiting the leagueto one or more specific machine types, a GenderCriteria for limiting theleague to a particular gender, and an AgeCriteria field for limiting theleague to a particular age or age range.

The LeagueTeams database 1204 includes LeagueID and TeamID fields toassociate a team with a league.

The Teams database 1208 includes a TeamID field for uniquely identifyinga team, a TeamName field for storing the name of the team, and a TeamManagerID field for storing the ID of the team manager.

The TeamMembers database 1206 includes UserID and TeamID fields toassociate a user with a team, and JoinDate and EndDate fields toindicate when a user joined a team and left a team.

The user database is described above in relation to FIG. 7.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for administering leaguesin accordance with the present invention. The control sequence starts at1302 and continues to step 1304. In step 1304, a first user (User1) isrecorded in a database. Control then continues to step 1306.

In step 1306, the first user is associated with a team and leaguemembership. Control then continues to step 1308.

In step 1308, the overall league standings are updated. Control thencontinues to step 1310 where the sequence ends. The control sequence ofFIG. 13 may be repeated as desired or needed to update the user, team,and league data.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for implementing racing inaccordance with the present invention. The control sequence begins atstep 1402 and continues to step 1404. In step 1404, a first user (User1)logs on and requests a race. The control sequence continues to step1406.

In step 1406, the GWFS creates a “race pool” of competitors and puts theUserID of the first user into the race pool. The control sequencecontinues to step 1408.

In step 1408, a second user (User2) logs on and requests a race. Thecontrol sequence continues to step 1410.

In step 1410, the GWFS adds the second user to the race pool created instep 1406. The race pool now contains the UserIDs for the first user andthe second user. Control continues to step 1412.

In step 1412, the first user may start the race, or may wish to delaystarting the race to allow for other users to join. Control continues tosteps 1414 and 1416. In steps 1414 and 1416, other users may log on andmay be added to the race pool if they request a race. Control continuesto step 1418.

In step 1418, the first user starts the race. Control continues to step1420.

In step 1420, the GWFS initiates simultaneous tracking for allmachineIDs associated with the UserIDs in the race pool. The racecontinues for a given time, distance, or other criteria as selected bythe first user. When the race is complete results may be displayed toeach user participating in the race. The control sequence continues tostep 1422, when the sequence ends. The control sequence of FIG. 14 maybe repeated as often as a user initiates a race request.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of an exemplary relational database forproviding real-time racing in accordance with the present invention. ARaces database 1502 has a many-to-many relationship with a RaceResultsdatabase 1504. The RaceResults database 1504 has a many-to-manyrelationship with a User database 708.

The Races database 1502 includes a RaceID field for uniquely identifyinga race, a RaceStartDateTime field for storing the start date and time ofthe race, a RaceDistance field for storing the distance of the race, anda Race duration field for storing the time duration of the race.

The RaceResults database 1504 includes a RaceID field for associatingthe results with a race in the Races database 1502, a UserID field forassociating a user form the User database 708 with a race result, and aUserPositionInRace field for storing a user's finishing position in arace. The User database 708 is described above in relation to FIG. 7.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for retrieving workoutreports of one user by another user. In particular, the control sequencebegins at step 1602 and continues to step 1604.

In step 1604, a first user (User1) logs onto a website coupled to theGWFS and associated databases containing workout information. Controlthen continues to step 1606.

In step 1606, the first user requests permission to view (or retrieve)workout reports or data of a second user (User2). Control then continuesto step 1608.

In step 1608, the GWFS records the “View Reports” request in thepermissions database in a field associated with the second user. Controlthen continues to step 1610.

In step 1610, the second user logs onto the website coupled to the GWFSand associated databases. Control then continues to step 1612.

In step 1612, the second user is presented with the request from thefirst user to view the workout reports of the second user. And, in thisexample, the second user permits the request, allowing the first user toview the workout reports of the second user. Alternatively, the seconduser may reject the request and the first user would not be permitted toview the workout reports of the second user. Control then continues tostep 1614.

In step 1614, the GWFS sets the “View Reports” flag and the UserID ofthe first user in the permissions table entry for the second user.Control then continues to step 1616.

In step 1616, the GWFS enables the first user to view the workoutreports of the second user. Control then continues to step 1618.

In step 1618, when the first user logs onto the website again, theacceptance of the “view Reports” request is displayed, and the firstuser may view or retrieve the workout reports for the second user.

The sequence shown in FIG. 16 may be used by employers, insurers, healthprofessionals, or others, to monitor, verify, and track the workouts ofselected users who have accepted the request for the viewing of theirworkout reports. For example, a health insurer may wish to monitor theworkouts of its subscribers or customers. In another example, anemployer or insurer may wish to monitor workouts to determine theusefulness and effectiveness of a fringe benefit such as a gymmembership.

The graphical workout feedback method and system, as shown in the abovefigures, may be implemented on a general-purpose computer, aspecial-purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor or microcontrollerand peripheral integrated circuit element, and ASIC or other integratedcircuit, a digital signal processor, a hardwired electronic or logiccircuit such as a discrete element circuit, a programmed logic devicesuch as a PLD, PLA, FPGA, PAL, or the like. In general, any processcapable of implementing the functions described herein can be used toimplement a system for graphical workout feedback according to thisinvention.

Furthermore, the disclosed system may be readily implemented in softwareusing object or object-oriented software development environments thatprovide portable source code that can be used on a variety of computertechnologies and platforms. Alternatively, the disclosed system forproviding graphical workout feedback may be implemented partially orfully in hardware using standard logic circuits or a VLSI design. Otherhardware or software can be used to implement the systems in accordancewith this invention depending on the speed and/or efficiencyrequirements of the systems, the particular function, and/or aparticular software or hardware system, microprocessor, or microcomputersystem being utilized. The graphical workout feedback methods andsystems illustrated herein can readily be implemented in hardware and/orsoftware using any known or later developed systems or structures,devices and/or software by those of ordinary skill in the applicable artfrom the functional description provided herein and with a general basicknowledge of the computer and mark-up language arts.

Moreover, the disclosed methods may be readily implemented in softwareexecuted on programmed general-purpose computer, a special purposecomputer, a microprocessor, or the like. In these instances, the systemsand methods of this invention can be implemented as program embedded onpersonal computer such as JAVA® or CGI script, as a resource residing ona server or graphics workstation, as a routine embedded in a dedicatedencoding/decoding system, or the like. The system can also beimplemented by physically incorporating the system and method into asoftware and/or hardware system, such as the hardware and softwaresystems of an image processor.

It is, therefore, apparent that there is provided in accordance with thepresent invention, systems and methods for providing graphical workoutfeedback. While this invention has been described in conjunction with anumber of embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives,modifications and variations would be or are apparent to those ofordinary skill in the applicable arts. Accordingly, applicants intend toembrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variationsthat are within the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computerized method for providing a visualgauge of fitness progress to a network of users of cardiovascularexercise machines, said method comprising: receiving instantaneoussensed data during a workout, the instantaneous data sensed by one ormore sensors and representative of at least one workout parameter of afirst user; storing the instantaneous sensed data as a function of timein a database having an identifier corresponding to each user; receivingstored historical data from one or more previous workouts, thehistorical data representative of the at least one workout parameter ofthe first user and at least one workout parameter of a second user as afunction of time, said historical data retrieved with user identifierscorresponding to each of the first user and second user and beingretrieved with permission of the second user; and establishing a rewardsystem for the first user and the second user, wherein the reward isbased on current data and historical data of the first user and thesecond user, respectively.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprisingreceiving instantaneous data from the second user concurrently with theinstantaneous data of the first user when the first and second users areengaged in a virtual competition.
 3. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising storing results of the virtual competition in the databaseand reporting the results to a user or an administrator of the virtualcompetition upon request, wherein a reward in the reward system is basedon the results.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing avirtual competition between two or more teams of users selected from thecategorized pools using instantaneous data, wherein team competitionresults are stored in the database and reported upon request.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, wherein the teams of users are selected from thecategorized pools using historical data of the users.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, further comprising: providing the capability for individuals orteams of users to compete in leagues, wherein an interface is providedfor administering the leagues, and results are stored in the databaseand reported upon request.
 7. A nontransitory computer readable mediumhaving stored thereon software instructions that, when executed by aprocessor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:receiving instantaneous sensed data during a workout, the instantaneousdata sensed by one or more sensors and representative of at least oneworkout parameter of a first user, wherein the workout is presented as agame; storing the instantaneous sensed data as a function of time in adatabase having an identifier corresponding to each user; receivingstored historical data from one or more previous workouts, thehistorical data representative of the workout parameter of the firstuser and a second user as a function of time, said historical dataretrieved with user identifiers corresponding to each of the first andsecond user and with permission of the second user; and displaying agraphical representation of the instantaneous sensed data juxtaposedwith the historical data on a display so that progress toward a desiredfitness level can be gauged and presented as part of the game.
 8. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the operations furthercomprise: receiving instantaneous data from the second user concurrentlywith the instantaneous data of the first user when the first and secondusers are engaged in a virtual competition.
 9. The computer readablemedium of claim 7, wherein the operations further comprise: providing athird user with remote access to the stored historical data of the firstuser when the third user identifies the first user, requests to accessto the historical data of the first user, and the first user grants thethird user access to the historical data of the first user.
 10. A systemfor providing an indication of fitness progress of a first user to athird party requestor, the system comprising: at least one sensoradapted to sense a value of at least one workout parameter during aworkout of the first user and transmit the sensed value as an electronicdata signal; a database adapted to store historical data from at leastone previous workout, said historical data representative of said atleast one workout parameter as a function of time; a processor coupledto the at least one sensor and the database, the processor beingprogrammed to receive the sensed value and store it in the database, thestored sensed value being associated with the first user, the processorprogrammed to rendering a real-time graphical representation of thesensed data juxtaposed with historical data retrieved from the database,wherein the real-time graphical representation includes a game; and adisplay device adapted to display the rendered real-time graphicalrepresentation of the instantaneous sensed data juxtaposed with thehistorical data so the progress toward a desired fitness level can begauged by the first user.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein theretrieved historical data includes historical data of the first user andhistorical data of a second user, different from the first user.
 12. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein the real-time graphical representationincludes true-to-life routes for virtual exercising.